Streaming Links
& Liner Notes

Born into a Blizzard

Leaving Santa Maria (4:35)

Jefferson Berry, Vocals & Guitar

Ryann Lynch, Violin

Bud Burroughs, Mandolin

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

On one of my California Tours, Steve Key generously booked me in to shows in Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and Cayucos. It’s a beautiful part of state that folks back east don’t think much about. I gave some thought about what it would be like to be young there and thought it’d be like much of America. Wanting something more.  Leaving. I saw her on a park bench, starring into space. Pondering her future, I thought.

Guitar on the River (3:44)

Jefferson Berry, Guitar & Lead Vocals

Dave Brown, Banjo

Bud Burroughs, Mandolin

Theresa Ratliff, Harmony Vocals

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

Philly is a town of neighborhoods and rivers.  Both offer venues for the characters in my songs to take shape. Now and then, on a nice day, I’ll walk down to the Schuylkill River with my guitar to throw songs into the water, mumbling words as a tune takes shape. Back in the day, we’d take my daughters to this part of Fairmount Park to feed the geese. On just such a day, The Urban Acoustic Coalition shot a video for this track with HD and drone cameras, It came out pretty cool.

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Thirty Miles to the Beach (5:12)

Jefferson Berry, Vocals & Guitar

Rubén Valtierra, Keys

Cliff Hugo, Bass

Kendrick Freeman, Drums

Jay Davidson, Tenor Sax

Rubén and I went to the University of California, Santa Cruz together. When we graduated, we both took the long hard look at rock ‘n roll stardom. Rubén stuck to his guns and became one of the most celebrated keyboard players in the world, touring with Weird Al Yankovic for the past 20+ years. Cover of Keyboard Magazine. An animation of himself from The Simpsons. I dabbled in a music career on the LA club circuit for a minute and decided I didn’t want to live in my car (as many superior cats were). This song is a story from that era, about a gal I met playing a show in the San Gabriel Valley. Decades later, Rubén has a new studio and a killer Latin Jazz trio.  He invited me out to Sonoma to cut my first samba with his guys. Bringing it back to Philly, I first had Kenny Ulansey in the studio to play soprano sax on it. Kenny had done some wonderful stuff on Prairie Fire. Kenny gave the song a nice take, but he suggested I bring in Jay Davidson on tenor sax... so we did.

How Could You Think That? (4:40)

Jefferson Berry, Guitar & Lead Vocals

Meaghan Kyle, Harmony Vocals

Bud Burroughs, Organ

Uncle Mike, Bass

You see it everywhere. People absorbed in their phones, soaking up whatever cockamamie meme the algorithm knows they are likely to love.  Yes, love. Meanwhile, the isolation grows until, as a society, we are making absurd decisions.  It is a question without a clear answer.  Sorry about that.

This Dawn of Mine (3:32)

Jefferson Berry, Vocals & Guitar

Bud Burroughs, Mandolin

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

Living in a North Philly row home, early in the morning, you can hear neighbors getting their days started. Not in a disturbing way--one would probably miss it if they weren’t listening for it. It’s time when I make lunch for Blue Eyes and me... and try to put yesterday behind me.

Philly Eats Its Own (3:22)

Jefferson Berry, Vocals & Guitar

Scott Bricklin, Guitar

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

When I moved to Philly (with a brief stop in New York) from the Bay Area, I quickly made some cultural observations. In California, newer friends were often confused as acquaintances. Relationships could be fairly transactional.  It was clear that here in Philly, friends had your back. But the way they treated their icons was terrible. I couldn’t believe how they booed Mike Schmidt, easily the greatest third baseman ever. And when I saw the local band Bricklin, I just couldn’t believe how they weren’t national stars. Todd Rundgren, Nina Simone, Jaco Pastorius, Larry Fine and on and on—they all left Philly to become big elsewhere. I was really happy to have Scott Bricklin on this track.  He cut his guitar part for it in France, where he’s enjoyed tremendous success.

Sleeping in Public (4:15)

Jefferson Berry, Vocals & Guitar

Matthew Gordon, Dobro

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

A new take on an old song, here is a tale all too common in the city that contradicts a common conception about the homeless. That narrative is one of condescension towards people living on the street; that they could do better if they tried. In fact there is a diversity in this class of folks that not only includes addicts, veterans and ne’er-do-wells, but also successful folks who’ve fallen on hard times and just quit this complicated world.

Sand in My Shoes (4:24)

Jefferson Berry, Vocals & Guitar

Jay Davidson, Tenor and Baritone Saxes
Theresa Ratliff, Harmony Vocals

Bud Burroughs, Mandolin

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

Some folks on the street, however, have a troubled relationship with reality. How did that sand get into your shoes?

Puddles/Here No More (3:43)

Jefferson Berry, Vocals and Guitar

Theresa Ratliff, Harmony Vocals

Bud Burroughs, Piano

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

I was taken by a semi-psychedelic flashback on a rainy day, captivated by the reflections in newly formed puddles. I got lost in the mirrored image of trees above, the ripples, the color of petroleum products floating on their surface, the depressions that made the puddles possible as well as the viscosity of fluids on flat surfaces. Snapping out of it, somehow, it all brought to mind a dramatic ending to a relationship.

Born on Payday

Jefferson Berry, Vocals and Guitar

Theresa Ratliff, Harmony Vocals

Bud Burroughs, Mandolin

Uncle Mike, Bass

Adam Stranburg, Drums

People are paid on Friday, every other Friday or the 15th and the 30th of the month.  I was born on Friday, January 15th. I was Born on Payday.

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All songs by Jefferson Berry, Urban Acoustic Music LLC 2024. BMI, Except:

Sand in my Shoes (Jefferson Berry / Charlie O’Hay)

Produced by Jefferson Berry

Engineered by Matt Muir

Publicity: Maggie Poulos

Radio Promotion: Art Menius

Album Design: Melissa Edwards

Cover Photo: Sarah Thornberry

Inner Sleave Photo: Jayne Toohey